Niblett is to join the non-profit body in January 2007 from the Washington-based Center for Strategic and International Studies, where he is executive vice-president and director.

Billing the appointment as evidence that Chatham House is becoming ‘a better conduit to the policy makers in Wash­ington', head of communications Keith Burnet told PRWeek: ‘Most blue-chip companies are members, but very few lobbyists are. However, our events provide very good networking oppor­tunities - something we have not actively promoted in the past.'

Chatham House - ­also known as The Royal Institute of International Affairs - has around 250 corporate and 2,000 individual members. It was founded in 1920 and organises conferences and meetings on international affairs. It also conducts research on international relations issues.